Last Updated on September 9, 2024 by Phil Hamerton
A request to add discussion of the draft HRO to the agenda for Thursday’s (12th September) Harbour Board meeting has been refused.
Despite the imminent submission to Transport Scotland from the Council of their ‘written representation’, which is due by Friday (13th) the Councillors who are responsible for setting policy regarding Argyll & Bute’s ports and harbours are not being given the opportunity to consider the Council’s position, let alone being consulted on it.
With 120+ outstanding objections submitted during the consultation during last December and January, none of which has been withdrawn, the next step is another ‘representation’ by the Council which will be forwarded to objectors for their consideration. Objectors will have 3 weeks to respond following which the Council will have a further 2 weeks to respond back to the objector. The 3 weeks:2 weeks cycle is then repeated if necessary and may even be extended.
The refusal to discuss the draft HRO at the next Harbour Board means that the elected Members of the Harbour Board have not been provided by Council Officers with the details – or even a summary – of the objections or the Council’s responses. Since the Council’s responses have failed to satisfy any objector there would seem to be some policy issues here as the consultation process, as it is described by Transport Scotland, is a negotiation between the applicant (the Council) and any objectors. Council Officers have not sought the advice of the Harbour Board over how to respond to the unprecedented level of objections and appear set to bypass them in the preparation of the Council’s next official position statement. This appears not to be negotiation, since direct discussions have been refused and Officers restate their initial positions over almost all the issues, and refusal to tell elected Councillors what is going on looks like denial of democratic processes.